Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar assured European Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger that Moldova is a credible partner in the energy sector. The two officials held discussions within Valeriu Lazar’s visit to Brussels on September 24-25, IPN reports.

According to a communiqué from the Ministry of Economy, the Deputy Prime Minister thanked the Commissioner for the constant support provided to Moldova with a view to ensuring the energy security and adjusting the national standards to the European ones.

He underlined the significance of the visit paid by Gunther Oettinger to Moldova at the end of this August to take part in the opening of the construction works on the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline, which is important for diversifying the energy sources of the country.

For his part, the Commissioner reiterated that the European Commission will continue to support projects designed to ensure Moldova’s energy security.

In a meeting with Director General for Trade Jean-Luc Demarty, Valeriu Lazar said that Moldova seeks to sign the Association Agreement, which provides for the creation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, as soon as possible.

Valeriu Lazar also discussed the assistance provided by the EU to Moldova with Michael Köhler, Director for Neighborhood at the Directorate General for Development And Cooperation. The two spoke about the programs under implementation financed by the EU and the possibility of increasing the financial assistance offered by the EU according to the ‘more for more’ principle.